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I LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 3 






j UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. J 



ENC4INEER STIMER'S 



U 



REPORT 



OF THE 



LAST TEIAL TRIP 

OF THE 

J 

S TASSAIC. ,? 



UNPARALLELED ATTEMPT TO THROW DISCREDIT UPON SUPERIORS. 



LANGUAGE UNBECOMING AN OFFICER. 



HIS DISMISSAL FROM THE SERVICE DEMANDED, 



The Public probably Deceived as to the "Result" of 

the Experiment of Firing Inside 

the Turret. 



■♦ ■ ♦ -■<»• 




NEW YORK: 

1862. 



(9 



A V 



TO THE PUBLIC. 



^-*-* 



To my fellow citizens; to every one who respects our gallant 
navy and its deeds, which tlms far has proved our 
" right arm " in defence of all thai is dear to us, and 
which bids fair to administer the final and crushing 
bloiv to the rebellion, I indite this letter, . 

I know not with what feelings others" may have read the Report of 
Mr. Engineer Stimers, which has appeared in all the papers of the day 
by this time, throughout the length and breadth of our land, but for 
myself, I read it with feelings of indignation and regret, such as I have 
rarely experienced over a newspaper article. 

Held up to the derision of the community, nay to the whole country, 
if not to the world — for this report of the success of Capt. Ericsson's 
theory (if it be a success) will have a w r orld-wide circulation — are 
Twenty-Five Naval Officers, among them two "Admirals," for having 
expressed their honest convictions, after witnessing a series of experi- 
ments^ being detailed by their government for this special duty. 

Among the "twenty-five officers," or as Mr. Stimers respectfully styles 
them, " hofficers," are some of the brightest names our country can boast 
of, names that will descend to history, and to our posterity, as heroes 
and patriots who stood by their flag, who periled their lives, and in 
many instances sacrificed everything that was dear to them socially, to 
uphold their country's honor. The names of Worden, Drayton, Dahl- 
gren, Ammon, Rhind, and others, who are among the "hofficers" thus 



held, up "by Mr. Stimers to receive the contumely and opprobrium of 
the people — not to mention Admirals Gregory and Smith, the former of 
whom I have the pleasure of a personal* acquaintance with, and know 
him to he a gentleman of most estimable character, honorable, high- 
minded, and conscientious — these names, I say, will live in the hearts of 
their countrymen, to he remembered with veneration and respect, when 
the individual, who has sought to bolster up, and parade himself before 
the public at their expense, will be remembered only for his dastardly 
attempt to throw discredit on them. That report, every line of it, was 
either written or dictated by this traducer, read over and approved by 
him before it w r as given to the public, (else how could the "after dinner 
scene" have been portrayed) who has risen to the position he holds 
mainly through the influence of the " Great Inventor," and by a certain 
amount of garrulity, which is sometimes mistaken for smartness. His 
ability as an engineer is not of a high order, or at least was not so 
considered before the affair of the "Monitor," with the success of which, 
as I shall presently show, he had very little to do. Not satisfied with 
insulting these " hofficers " once, he does it again, by calling them the 
"Great" twenty -five, (including two Admirals), the latter two in a 
"parenthesis," as if to impress upon them the sovereign contempt in 
which he holds the highest rank in our service. What are Admirals, 
or Commodores, or Captains, or Commanders, or any one else to this 
"sublime disciple of Archimedes," when they express an opinion which 
does not coincide with his interest ? Truly — What right have they to 
an opinion? Truly — Alexander conquered the World, why may not 
he a score or two of "hofficers." 

Let me say to the public, receive with caution the statements of (his 
gentleman, so far at least as they relate to the success of the " Grand 
Idea." As one of the people I should, individually, very much prefer to 
hear what Captain Drayton has to say on the subject. Why were there 
but two 351b. charges fired, and but three altogether? Why was not 
the experiment continued? I take it for granted they don't think Ave 
are going to settle the business on the Southern coast in three rounds 
from each gun. I sincerely trust that some means may be arrived at 
by which the difficulties may be overcome, for it will be a serious busi- 
ness if the arrangement for firing inside should give way in action. 



While I am about it, T will just unburthen myself of a load that has 
been upon my mind for some time past. [ shall confine myself to facts, 
which, if I am not correct in stating, Mr. Stimers will have an opportunity 
of replying to. I desire to say a word or two on the persistent effort 
this gentleman has made, and is still making, to disparage Commander 
Worden, and to impose upon the public the belief — the " Grand Idea" — 
that he (Stimers) fought the " Monitor,.'' Not only has he attempted, or at 
least given his tacit consent, that Commander Worden should be robbed of 
his dear-bought honors, by allowing himself to be " toasted," at the 
launches of the new "Monitors," as the man who "did it," but he has 
encouraged the getting-up of a testimonial in acknowledgment of this 
"false pretence," to which considerable sums have been already sub- 
scribed, principally, it is true, by those engaged in the construction of 
the new " Monitors," who seem to have had an intuitive perception— 
a " Grand Idea" — that such subscription would not be an "unprofitable 
investment," and in these pretensions, I regret to say, he has been 
seconded and sustained by Captain Ericsson, in his speech before the 
Chamber of Commerce, and on other occasions. Let me say to the 
public, be not deceived. Commander (then Lieutenant) Worden was a 
tried man. He had rendered his country signal service before he ever 
saw the "Monitor," and saved us "Fort Pickens." It will be remem- 
bered, he was sent in the beginning of our troubles with dispatches to 
the Commander of the Squadron, then off the Fort, to reinforce it, and 
when on his journey thither, he found himself getting in close quarters 
and likely to be arrested, he opened his dispatches, committed them to 
memory, and destroyed them. Shortly after this he was arrested, as 
he expected he would be, and brought before Bragg, whom he completely 
outwitted, and who, finding nothing upon him, suffered him to proceed. 
We know the sequel. The Fort ivas reinforced and secured to us, 
when it would unquestionably have been taken but for his foresight, 
judgment, and promptness in taking responsibility. On his way back he 
was ajiain arrested, (the rebels having discovered the object of his mission 
in their thwarted designs) and cast into prison at Montgomery, suffer- 
ing all the horrors to which' " Union " men were subjected in that early 
stage of the rebellion. After an incarceration of some months, he was 
finally exchanged. So too, he fought the " Merrimac " without orders. 



6 

and without consultation with any one save his executive officer and 
First Lieutenant Green. Fn honoring such a man we do honor to our- 
selves, and we cannot too jealously guard his well-earned lame, and 
protect him — whose "gallantry is only exceeded by his modesty" — 
from any attempt to detract from, or transfer the praise that is due 
him, to another. One word about Lieutenant Green, who fought the 
" Monitor " after Commander Worclen was disabled. Many who read 
this will say, " we never heard of him " — no, certainly not ! and why 
not? Simply, because it was not for the interest of " certain parties" 
you should. They have attempted to bury him alive, but he will yet 
rise to receive the honors due him, as surely as the night follows the day. 
Lieutenant Green is no " blustering letter writer," He is a young 
officer, modest and retiring in his manners, gentle and affable, but with 
a heart as true as steel. Where is he, do you ask? Just where he 
was when he left here, dragging out a miserable existence in the 
u Monitor," which he prefers to do, rather than to embarrass his Govern- 
ment with complaints, or to come before the public for redress. If he 
is not "crippled." with rheumatism and disabled for life by his long 
confinement on board that vessel it will be a miracle, and because he 
has the constitution of a horse. Mr. Stimers performed no duty on 
board the " Monitor," daring her engagement, that could not have been 
as w ell performed by a first-class " Fireman," viz. ; turning the turret. 
He was not even attached to the vessel, and went down to " Fortress 
Monroe " merely as a spectator, and brought himself into notice by his 
" famous " letter to Captain Ericsson, in which, as usual, he makes large 
mention of himself, and very little of any one else engaged in the action. 
Now, what should be done witn the man, who has attempted and 
accomplished so much mischief as Mr. Engineer Stimers, who holds to- 
day a power perfectly "despotic?" 

There are some eighteen or twenty Ericsson batteries under way, and 
he is made by the Government, Superintendent-in-chief of them all. 
Admiral Gregory nominally holds this rank, but Stimers wields the 
the power, and has it all his own way. It is painful to those who have 
witnessed it, and who are accustomed to ' venerate and respect those 
advanced in years, and particularly one holding the high rank and con- 
fidence of the Government that Admiral Gregory does, to see him 



snubbed, and thrown one side, and forced to acquiesce in matters which 
his better judgment tells him he should not, and yet this is of constant 
occurrence. Every-one who comes in contact with Stimers is made to 
feel, or perhaps I should say, expected to feel, his "immense superiority," 
and when once his " dictum " is pronounced, it is beyond the power of 
reason to convince him, that by the merest possibility he might be 
mistaken. 

The Commanding Officers of the "Iron-Clads," who are waiting for their 
vessels here, are made subordinate to him, and men who have grown 
gray in the service, and done honor to it, are obliged to accept what Mr. 
Stimers chooses to give them in the way of men and material to fit out 
their ships with, notwithstanding they are expected to fight them, and held 
responsible for results. Any complaints made to the Department, from 
those engaged in building the " Iron-Clads," of unjust exactions, or for the 
settlement of any matters in dispute, — are so universally returned to this 
" gentleman " for adjustment, (and he does not hesitate to tel] people 
when they threaten to complain, that this will be the result of it,) 
that men hcive found it scarcely worth their while to make an appeal, 
and thereby insure for themselves more rigorous treatment. Now this is 
ail wrong, and opposed to the fundamental principles of our Government, 
and in bringing this gentleman before the public, in his true character, I 
have been actuated far more by the conviction that he wields a dangerous 
power and is abusing it, than from any personal feelings I have in this 
matter. I can see that unless this thing is at once put down, the most 
serious consequences will result from it. I do not think that anything 
less than immediate dismissal from the service, with a severe reprimand 
from Hon. Secretary Welles, will satisfy the gentlemen he has insulted 
and attempted to disgrace, and they owe it to themselves and to their 
friends to insist on it. The public, when the facts become known, will 
demand it. When the highest officers in the service are made the " tools 
and playthings " upon which men seek to elevate and continue themselves 
in power, it is time their countrymen should speak out. Another petty 
and contemptible act on the part of Mr. Stimers, is his attempt in his 
report, to prejudice the public against the Iron-Clad " Keokuk," quite as 
creditable a production, to say the least, as any lie has had to do with ? 
and I predict will prove more serviceable. The Constructor, I see, 



8 

answers the attack in a becoming manner. He must indeed consider 
her a dangerous rival, to have gone so much out of his way to bring in 
the disparaging notice. It must not be forgotten, that while it is 
important to have vessels that are " shot-proof," it is equally so to have 
them constructed in a manner that human beings can exist on board of 
them, and preserve their health, for with all the various and manifold 
combinations of machinery about the new " Monitors," human means 
have to be employed after all. 

Let me say to the Constructor of the " Keokuk," that from something 
that has been brought to my notice recently, an effort is likely to be 
made in a certain quarter to have his vessel detailed for the protection 
of New-York harbor, in order that she may have no opportunity of 
testing her qualities as a sea-going vessel, or in action. The comparison 
which he complains of in the ungcntlemanly and unjust notice of his craft, 
is likely to become still more odious than he found it, to the side which 
Stimers represents, should the vessels ever be tested together. 

"Pr/emonitus, pr^emunitus." If there is any one thing more than 
another, in which the whole nation is interested, it is that this vessel 
should be tested with the "Monitors," in its sailing and fighting qualities, 
for of all the " Iron-Clads " now building in "eastern waters " with 
the exception of Mr. Webb's Ram just begun and that has the Ericsson 
Turret, the " Keokuk " is the only one not built on the " Monitor'''' 
principle, viz. : with straight sides and revolving turrets. The gentleman 
is abundantly able to take care of himself, and will doubtless see that 
no such programme is carried out. 

"Last scene of all,"— the after-dinner scene, — what are we to think of 
if? The most ridiculous, the most childish and insipid production, that 
any man, making any pretensions to sense ever penned, and which by the 
way affords a true index of the gentleman's mind. In the language of 
another who read it, "it's enough to make a man sea-sick." 

There is no work, upon which Mr. Stimers is engaged, that cannot be 
at least as well performed by twenty different persons at the command 
of the Department, and by men who will devote their whole time and 
energies to it, who have no "axes to grind" or "wires to puIL" If the 
grossly insulting tenor of the " Report " is not deemed sufficient by the 



9 



Hon. Secretary Welles, to warrant the dismissal of this man from the 
service, let me say that no charges have been made, which cannot he 
proven and sustained by the most undoubted evidence before a " Court 
Martial." 

If, in producing my facts, I have at times appeared too severe, it is 
because the case in my judgment, merits severe treatment. I am not a 
disappointed contractor, politician, or candidate for any office whatever, 
and never expect to be. I see, and it is enough for me to see, as a lover 
of my country, a great and mighty power rising up, which threatens to 
crush out and trample under foot everything, and by any means, that 
stands in the way of its interest or advancement. It has already gone 
too far. When one of the representatives of this power levels his abuse, 
and attempts to disgrace his superior officers, by publishing them to the 
World, I say he should be made an example of, and there should be no 
tardy justice about it. No threat, no attempted intimidation, no thought 
of the consequences, however " shocking " they may be made to appear, 
should deter Mr. Welles from doing his duty, and will not, I apprehend 
if I know the man. No nation in Christendom can or would suffer such 
an outrage upon its honored representatives to pass, without visiting it 
with the most' summary punishment. 

If it is allowed to pass, and Mr. S timers thereby sustained in the 
position he has taken, there is an end of all subordination in the service. 

Respectfully submitting my remarks, I am, 

''ONE OF THE PEOPLE." 



Since the above was put in print, the following article has appeared 
in the " Scientific American " of November 29th. As this highly 
respectable paper would not publish such a statement, except upon the 
most " undoubted authority " — if it is true — it stamps the whole 
proceeding as one of the basest attempts to deceive the public ever 



10 

perpetrated, and leaves Stimers with his " calumnious report "where 
no officer or gentleman, with a particle of self-respect, could ever suffer 
himself to come in contact with, or to be addressed by him. 



ERICSSON'S IRON CLAD, "PASSAIC." 

[From the "Scientific American" Nov. 29tk.) 

" This vessel was armed and apparently completed nearly a month ago, and ought 
ere this to have been thundering with terrific roar before the walls of. the strongholds 
of Confederate treachery. But instead of sturdy service like this, the time and the 
giant's power have been wasted in new experiments, and the vessel idly remains tied 
fast to the dock. What is the reason of this unaccountable delay ? Simply this : the 
porthole is too small to allow the muzzle of the great gun to pass out, and the parties 
interested wont enlarge it, but insist on hooding the muzzle. 

We all remember the rapidity with which the Monitor was equipped and sent into 
action. Her porthole was large enough for the gun to run out, and her success, how 
splendid and glorious it was ! Now why not adopt the same plan on the Passaic f 
Has common sense departed from the projectors and from the Secretray of the Navy, 
that they are content to fritter away the golden moments of the present in new experi- 
ments, when well-tried, practical methods stand ready before them ? 

We do not say that the fire of a 15 -inch cannon having a 28 inch muzzle cannot be 
safely delivered through a 1*7 -inch port. But this we say: Delay no longer. The 
nation waits impatiently for the vessel. Transfer your experiments to the shore. 
Enlarge the Passaic Is port-hole. Run out the great gun and blaze away at the vaunting 
enemy ! 

The Passaic went on a second experimental trip a few days ago to try the new 
muzzle hood. We were not invited to be present, but certain puffers of the city 
papers were, and they gave to the public next day the most glowing accounts of the 
"complete success" of the new devices. In addition to this the speed of the vessel 
was put at 1 miles an hour, using only a fraction of her power. Capt. Ericsson was 
crowned with a 'cart-load of fresh laurels, and all the admirals and experienced men 
who had previously felt doubtful of the results were denounced in unmeasured terms. 
Now, as we said before, we were not there ; but we are reliably informed that the 
total results of the said experimental trip may be correctly summed up as follows : — 
The vessel made 5 miles an hour, three shots were fired, the muzzle hood was torn 
to pieces, and the vessel came back to await the construction of something new." 



11 

For convenient reference I annex Mr. Engineer Stimers report, as it 
appeared in the "Times" of Sunday, November 16th; "verbatim" 



GREAT NAVAL PROBLEM SOLVED 



A GUN CAN BE FIRED INSIDE A TURRET. 



FOUR MEN WORK A GUN WEIGHING TWENTY TONS 



THE GREAT TRIAL TRIP OF THE PASSAIC— 
REVOLUTION US NAVAL ORDNANCE- 
GRAND SUCCESS. 



Yesterday the naval authorities of this vicinity were the witnesses of a great 
experiment. As early as 7 o'clock, a visitor to the Navy Yard, or to any of the iron- 
clad yards, would have easily discovered that something was going to turn up. The 
great trial trip of the Passaic was to come off, and the question would be decided 
whether one inventor, or "twenty -five naval officers, among whom were two 
Admirals," occupied the correct position on a disputed point. All the navy, all the 
newspapers, (ourselves included,) all the contractors, and all the mechanics of the 
town, who knew of the affair, did not see how a gun twenty-one tons in weight 
could be fired inside a turret twenty-one feet in diameter, without having its muzzle 
protrude through the porthole. Alone among the faithless, with only one engineer 
to join him, was Mr. Erecsson. The opinions of the great twenty-five, (including 



12 

the two Admirals.) and of all the rest of mankind was nothing — the thing must be 
proved a humbug. 

At 10 o'clock the Passaic was reported ready. She had come from Greenpoint to 
have her boilers cleansed — divested of the filthy coating which builders deem 
indispensable — and the job being done, her steam began to rise. A large number 
of scientific officers — men who could never see anything until every body could see 
it — congregated at the Iron Works. The wharf was crowded. The privilege to 
witness the great experiment — that which is to revolutionize naval warfare — was 
granted to a chosen few. Among them were the following : 

Admiral Gregory, General Superintendent of iron-clads. 

Chief-Engineer Stimers (the only believer in the great idea.) 

Chief-Engineers Lawton, Robil. 

Capt. Drayton, who commands the Passaic, and whose brother, the rebel Gen. 
Drayton, got some iron messages from him at Port Royal. 

The representative of the leading journals, and one or two private citizens. 

A squad of marines arrived from the barracks to keep loafers from the guns, and a 
few sailors, who looked as if sentenced to death, on account of the terrible situation 
the Department was about to place them in. 

At a quarter past 10 the ropes were loosened, the steam-tug, R. Birkbeck headed 
the vessel up the river and the engines of the Passaic began to move. The 
spectators* shouted, and on all the wharves from Thirteenth to Twenty-fifth street 
crowds of astonished people were hurrying to the verge of the water to see the 
"floating Divil,'' as the Hibernian elegantly expressed it. Some fifteen minutes 
after our departure the cleaning out of the boilers began to tell. The Passaic 
was making seven miles an hour, with her machinery barely stirring. Hitherto she 
had hardly done that at her best. The air was crisp and cold, the atmosphere 
bracing, and the tide stiff. What the Christopher street rowers call white-caps, were 
plenty enough, and our decks were sprinkled occasionally. "We were still the observed 
of all observers. Even the oyster boats saw that there was something big on the 
board, and all descriptions of small craft clashed by us, often very closely. No one 
ever passed without giving a cheer and dipping the ensign, were it ever so small. 
Steamboats whistled for us but we did not go to the lads, having better business on 
hand. 

It is 12 o'clock. We are at the Palisades. Fort Washington is on the hill, at one 
side. The yacht Rebecca is anchored near. We halt. Preparations are made to fire. 
A cap misses. " She's a failure," bursts from a dozen throats. Another fails to 



13 

touch the powder. " It 's just as I said," cried an 'hofficer, "they never can fire that 
gun without putting it chock out through the port." A third cap missed. " What 's 
the use of trying," chimed in a third, "can't they see."— 

THE FIRST SHOT 

interrupted him. It struck about 300 yards from the vessel in the water, glanced off, 
and flew into the bosom of the Palisades, kicking up more dust than a squadron of 
irregular cavalry. Every one rushed to the turret. Was it there? What part 
burnt? Who's killed? No one — nothing broke — the turret was there, as strong 
and solid as the rock of Gibralter. No one was smothered inside— no one deafened, 
the concussion was not felt any more than the Captain of an old-fashioned 32-pounder 
feels it on board the old-fashioned frigate. 

What a fall came on the prophets and the faithless. A success at last ! What 
will he (Ericsson) say now ? Everybody knew then that it always had a chance to 
do well. Even the gentlemen who crept to the extreme margin of the ship, and 
turned very pale when the loading began, got brave and dared to look into the turret. 

The very first fire, then, results in no smoke to speak of, no inconvenient concussion 
and the complete success of a grand idea. The first charge consisted of 20 lbs. of 
powder, and a hollow shot, (330 lbs.,) fired out of the 15-inch gun. It recoiled 17 
inches. 

THE SECOND SHOT. 

This also was fired out of the 15-inch gun, there being really no need of discharging 
the 11-inch. The first shot having proved the practicability of the principle, the entire 
charge of 35 lbs. of powder was now put in. Notwithstanding the success of the 
experimental fire, the timid ones still kept in the background. No cap missed. No 
one prophesied ill. Capt. Draytox pulled the trigger. Once more the echoes of the 
Palisades rang out. The recoil and smoke were reported "insignificant," and the 
shot — a hollow one — buried itself again in the beach. Cheers were loudly given for 
the Passaic. Converts became numerous about the deck. It is singular that even 
the noise is only troublesome outside the turret, on deck, where no one has any 
business to be, even there. The recoil was a few inches greater than at first, owing 
to the compressers not being properly tightened ; but this only proved the perfect 
reliability of the apparatus that regulates the recoil. 

THE THIRD SHOT. 

The compressers were righted this time, and there was even less recoil than at 
first. The smoke was "nowhere:" A full 35-pound was put in, and the 330-pound 
hollow shot. The ball struck the water as before, there being no desire to elevate 



14 

the gun, or to test any but the one great principle. Again outsiders, who were where 
the enemy will be in battle, heard noise, but only very' near the turret was it 
inconveniently loud. Thus ended the three shots. 

THE KESULT. 

There were three grand results. 

First — A gun may be fired inside a turret. 

Second — In order to appreciate the nature of the second result, it should be known 
that the Armstrong guns in England have been condemned for use on shipboard, 
chiefly because a sufficient number of men could not be placed in the turret to work 
them. Twenty-five failed to do it satisfactorily, and the Armstrong gun weighs 
fourteen tons. Yesterday, four men worked a 15-inch gun, which weighes twenty 
tons. Here is, of itself, a revolution in naval labor for which history furnishes 
no parallel. The Monitor's 11-inch gun, when worked with eight men was 
deemed a miracle of metallic locomotion. Yet here is a gun, over 25,000 pounds 
heavier, worked by half the number of men. And next week Mr. Whitney will 
put a 15,000 pound gun on board the Keokuk, which will require twenty men, 
(because he has not even the Monitor plan,) while the 42,600 pound gun of the 
Passaic is moved by half the number. 

Third — The third result is a very important one. It is the immobility of the Passaic, 
and consequently of her sister ships, in a heavy tide. A deaf man could not tell 
yesterday that the vessel stirred. The writer held a full glass of water in his hand, 
while white-caps were breaking over the deck, and a particle of the liquid never even 
trembled. Waves break on the iron margin of the craft and splash in harmless foam 
about the deck. They have no hull to strike — no high bulwarks ; even the turret 
presents an angle to angry Neptune, at every side. So much for the results. 

RECAPITULATION. 

The following is a tabular recapitulation of the experiments : 

BALL WEIGHS. CHARGE OF POWDBR. RECOIL. 

First shot 330 lbs (hollow) ... 20 lbs 1*7 inches. 

Second shot 330 lbs (hollow). . .35 lbs 3 ft. 10 inches. 

Third shot 330 lbs 35 lbs 2 ft. 8 inches. 



HOW ERICSSON RECEIVED THE NEWS. 

It has been intimated that, through thick and thin, Ericsson believed in the 
correctness of his principle. Yet, he is only a man, and the great men who candidly 



15 

sent him doubtful prophecies, and the incredulity that he plainly saw on almost every 
countenance, almost shook his faith. It was Engineer Stimers who brought the 
news. The inventer had just had dinner. He rises at 5 — works from 6 in the 
morning until 12 at night — takes half an hour for each meal — dines at 5. He had 
had his dinner, and was choking with excitement. He alone knew what was hanging 
on the news. Stimers entered. He said : 

" Capt. Ericsson, allow me to congratulate you on the signal service you have 
rendered to the Government and to our country." 

"What?" asked the iron-clad man, trying to conceal curiosity and anxiety, that 
almost changed his entire appearance. 

11 The experiment is thoroughly successful." 

This was said with a smile. 

" You are joking." 

"No, not joking; I am about to telegraph to Washington what I have seen, and 
that is the grand success of your grand idea." 

Ericsson grasped his hand and reddened like a child — " I knew it all along myself,' ' 
he said; "but all save you, Stimers, went against me." 

THE PASSAIC. 

The service preparations of this vessel are now begun. The experiment having 
demonstrated the perfect success of the arrangement in the turret, a strong duty 
apparatus will be made to supersede that which was temporarily got up for the trial 
trip. 

THE INVENTION. 

The invention which accomplished the great results of yesterday belong to the 
United States. No one would reveal their nature but a traitor. 



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